Assembly of First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine disputed suggestions that Native leaders interfered with the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Canada.

Fontaine said AFN wants to ensure the commission carries out is mandate to report the truth about residential schools and start the healing process. But Harry LaForme, an Ontario appeal court justice and member of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, reportedly quit as chairman of the commission due to AFN's meddling.

"This has been a deliberate attack on the Assembly of First Nations and on me and my office and it's not gonna wash because it's not the truth. If you attack us the way we've been attacked, well, we'll fight back. We're gonna fight back," Fontaine, who attended a residential school said, CBC News reported.

The government is deciding whether to replace the chairman or to replace all three commissioners, whom LaForme said did not recognize his authority and were siding with AFN in focusing more on the "truth" aspect of the commission.

Get the Story:
AFN chief defends role in residential school commission (CBC 10/30)
Residential schools panel struggles to find new chair (The Globe and Mail 10/30)

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